Procedure

Warmer: Predict text topic from key words

Project the power point and have students try to guess what the text they’re going to read is about by flashing up the picture and the keywords 2 at a time. Students continue predicting until all the key words are visible.

Article: Reading comprehension, vocab focus and discussion

Go through the activities on the hand out, answer key for comprehension questions is at the bottom.

Barcelona marches to curb negative effects of tourism boom

Community groups join forces to protest over soaring level of rents fuelled by a big rise in visitor numbers

Behind banners reading “Barcelona is not for sale” and “We will not be driven out”, some 2,000 people staged an “occupation” of the Rambla, the city’s famed boulevard, on Saturday.

The protest was organised by a coalition of more than 40 resident and community groups from all over the city, not just the neighbourhoods most directly affected by mass tourism.

Visitor numbers have grown exponentially in recent years. In 2016 an estimated 9 million people stayed in hotels and a further 9 million in holiday apartments. In addition, the city received around 12 million day-trippers arriving by car and train or on cruise ships.

Tourists looked on bemused as the banners were unfurled at the top of the Rambla, beside the Canaletes fountain.

“I don’t understand. What do they mean, Barcelona is not for sale?” asked Qais from Kuwait. “It’s not what we were expecting, but I can see their point,” he said when it had been explained to him. He added: “Things are really bad in the Middle East,” which put things in perspective. “Does it mean they don’t want us here?” his wife asked. Birgid from Denmark was less sympathetic. “Tourism brings in lots of money to the city, doesn’t it? I’m sure it’s changed the city, but that’s life, isn’t it?”

Roger from Wigan, here on his second visit, commented: “I can understand it, the place is very commercial. And if I understand what’s written on some of these placards, they are complaining that tourism is forcing their rents up.I can sympathise with that.”

This was one of the key issues behind the march, as the money to be made from holiday lets is forcing rents up and driving people out of the city.

Christine, an Englishwoman on the march who has lived in Barcelona for more than 20 years, said: “We’ve been renting our flat in the old town for 17 years. In that time I reckon we’ve paid around €150,000 in rent. Now they want to kick us out because they can make more money renting it out to tourists.”

The march coincides with a new law passed by Barcelona city council on Friday that, for the first time, seeks to curb tourism. The special urban plan for tourist accommodation aims to limit the number of beds on offer from hotels and apartments by imposing a moratorium on building new hotels. No new licences will be issued for tourist apartments.

There are currently 75,000 hotel beds in the city and around 100,000 beds in tourist flats, at least half of them unlicensed and illegal. The city is at loggerheads with Airbnb, the principal letting agency. Last year the council fined Airbnb and HomeAway €600,000 each for advertising unlicensed apartments.

Airbnb argues that the overwhelming majority of its clients in the city are people who are letting out rooms as a way of making ends meet during Spain’s prolonged financial crisis.

“That may be true up to a point, but it masks the real problem, which is speculation,” says Daniel Pardo, a member of the Neighbourhood Assembly for Sustainable Tourism. Yet people are free to visit the city, so what’s to stop them?

“One thing we could do is stop spending millions on promoting tourism,” says Pardo. “We’re subsidising tourism with public money, by exploiting workers in the service economy and exploiting the infrastructure of the city, which we citizens pay for. Furthermore, tourism is distorting the economy and there is little support for anyone who wants to establish non-tourist enterprises.”

The good-humoured march moved to the seaward end of the Rambla, where one of the organisers read out a manifesto calling for more local shops, more homes, rather than businesses, and control of the pollution caused by private cars and cruise ships. “It’s a great turnout,” one of the marchers quipped. “There are more people here than at Trump’s inauguration. The citizens have never been consulted about this, although they’re the ones who suffer the consequences and aren’t enjoying the benefits. [We’re asking for] the debate to be opened to everyone and that we reach some other resolution of the problem, instead of the present one based on continuous growth.”

Comprehension Questions

Who organised the march?

How many tourists did Barcelona receive in total last year?

How did tourists feel about the march?

What is the main detrimental effect that tourism is having on the city’s residents?

How has the council responded to the rising number of tourists?

How does airbnb defend itself?

What suggestions does Daniel Pardo make?

The march was very serious and angry true/false

Language Focus

Work with a partner, look at the underlined expressions in the text, what do you think they mean?

Now try to complete the expressions from memory:

This was one of the k____ issues behind the march,

The protest was organised by a c____________ of more than 40 resident and community groups.

Visitor numbers have grown e_______________ in recent years.

Now they want to k_______ us out because they can make more money renting it o_______ to tourists.”

The money to be made from h_______ lets is f_______ rents up and d________ people out of the city.

They are complaining that tourism is forcing their rents up. I can s________ with that.

The city is at l____________ with Airbnb.

A new law p_________ by Barcelona city council on Friday that, for the first time, s_________ to c___________ tourism.

The special urban plan for tourist accommodation a______ to limit the number of beds ____ offer from hotels and apartments by i__________ a m__________ on building new hotels.

Airbnb argues that the o___________ majority of its clients in the city are people who are l___________ out rooms as a way of m_______ ends m________ during Spain’s prolonged financial crisis.

“That m_______ be true up to a p________, but it masks the real problem, which is speculation,”

The citizens have never been c__________ about this, although they’re the ones who s_________ the consequences and aren’t e_________ the b___________.

“It’s a great t____________,”

Language of opinion

Complete the sentences with one word to make expressions of opinion.

F_____________ where I stand,

In my h_____________ opinion,

As f________ as I’m concerned,

A_______ I see it,

I don’t have very s___________ views on the matter but,…

I t___________ to agree with people who say…

If you a______ me, I’d say that…

I’m co___________ that…

From my p_______ of v__________,

Speaking from p____________ ex______________,

I’m a big s________________ of…

I’m d_______ against…

I’m a f__________ believer in….

Conversation

What do you think of the march? Are you in agreement with their message?

Would you consider protesting on the issue?

What are the pros and cons of tourism in your city?

How does tourism affect your neighbourhood?

What experiences do you have of the downsides of tourism?

Do you think you have enjoyed the benefits of tourism? In what way?

Do you think tourism should be curbed in any way? If so, how?

Language Development

Look at the language from the text, in what other contexts could you use it?

The city’s famed boulevard – what other things could be famed?

Stage an occupation – what other things can you stage?

A coalition of resident and community groups – what other coalitions can you think of?

Visitor numbers have grown exponentially in recent years. – What other things can grow exponentially?

“Puts things in perspective” – In what other contexts could you use this expression?

Tourism brings in a lot of money. – What other things bring in money for a government/company?

“That’s life, isn’t it?” – In what other contexts could you use this expression?

A new law passed by the council seeks to curb – What other things would the government pass laws to curb?

Now they want to kick us out – what other things could you be kicked out of?

The plan aims to limit the number of beds on offer. – What other things could be limited?

A manifesto calling for more local shops – What other things could a manifesto or a protest call for?

They’re the ones who are suffering the consequences and not enjoying the benefits? – What other things could you suffer the consequences or enjoy the benefits of?

Comprehension Questions Key

Who organised the march? A coalition of residents & community groups

How many tourists did Barcelona receive in total last year? 9+9+12=30million

How did tourists feel about the march? Mixed emotions, some understanding, some bemused

What is the main detrimental effect that tourism is having on the city’s residents? Forcing rents up, driving people out

How has the council responded to the rising number of tourists? Laws to curb tourism, limits on flats, moratorium on new hotels

How does airbnb defend itself? Most hosts are just letting out spare rooms

What suggestions does Daniel Pardo make? Stop subsidising tourism with public money, infrastructure of the city is being exploited by tourism

The march was very serious and angry true/false. false, march was good-humoured

This is a grammar activity designed for C1 students. Students learn how to express preference using “would rather” and “would sooner” then put them to use in a roleplay. Download the powerpoint, handout and key below:

Use the powerpoint to present the rules, it is designed in a test, teach, test structure. Make sure that students copy down the rules and several examples then have them complete the worksheet and finally put the structures to use in a fun role-play. Students will role play being a married couple having a very civilised argument. Once they have finished have them feedback in open class: “Can the marriage be saved? Or is it on the rocks?” My teenage CAE students found it absolutely hilarious and used the structures in very creative ways.

Handout

Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verb in brackets:

I would rather ____________ a light salad than a steak for dinner. (have)

I would rather he ________________his dirty cups all over the house. (not leave)

Venice was nice but I’d sooner __________________ to Paris. (go)

He’s quite antisocial he’d just as soon ____________ video games all weekend than go to a bar. (play)

I wanted to give the present to granny! I’d rather you _______________ for me to arrive before you gave it to her. (wait)

We had dinner outside but it was too cold. I’d much rather ______________ inside the restaurant. (eat)

Complete the key word transformations using 3-6 words.

My brother is always stealing my chocolate out of the fridge.

RATHER

I’d _______________________________________ my chocolate out of the fridge.

Why did you tell the boss I was leaving?

RATHER

I ____________________________________ the boss I was leaving.

I prefer visiting museums to lying around on the beach all day.

JUST

I ____________________________ than lie around on the beach all day.

The chocolates he gave me were ok but I wanted roses.

RATHER

I _____________________________ me roses instead of chocolates.

The art gallery was sooo boring; I wanted to go to the casino.

RATHER

I _______________________________ to the casino instead of that boring art gallery.

He would prefer to do anything instead of watching a football match.

SOONER

He ___________________________________ anything instead of watching a football match.

Role-play

Role-play the following scenario with your partner:

You are a married couple; you have been married for 23 years. You have just got back from a party at a friend’s house. At the party you both got drunk and did a lot of things to annoy your husband/wife. You are both also annoyed about some things that the other does or doesn’t do around the house. Have a civilised argument using as many “would rathers” and “would sooners” as you can.

This is a vocabulary activity designed with proficiency students (C2) in mind. However, it can be adapted for advanced students. Students will learn expressions with the word “mind” and use them in a discussion. Download the students’ handout and teacher’s notes below:

Give out the handout and have students work in pairs to complete as many as they can. For lower levels or if students struggle you could write all the missing words on the board and students could use them to complete the activity. Students can use the list on the back to check their own answers.

Key

1. Great

2. Load

3. Meeting

4. Frame/state

5. Right

6. Give piece

7. Have own

8. Boggling

9. In/of

10. Cast

11. Bearing

12. Crossed

13. If do

14. Half

15. Sieve

16. Tracked

17. Running

18. Put

19. Own business

20. P’s q’s

21. Slipped

Definitions

Great minds think alike – When two people have had the same good idea

A load off one’s mind – news that brings relief

A meeting of the minds – group of experts meeting to discuss something

Cast one’s mind back – think about a specific time in the past/make an effort to remember

Bear in mind/It’s worth bearing in mind – Remember/take into account

Cross one’s mind/It never crossed my mind to – I never thought about (normally in relation to a solution to a problem)

Don’t mind if I do – I would like to, used when accepting an offer, usually food/drink

Have half a mind to – to be considering doing something (normally something you’re not going to do)

Have a mind like a sieve – bad memory

Have a one-tracked mind – always thinking about one thing, almost always sex

Run through one’s mind – something you’re constantly thinking about

Put one’s mind to st – make a considerable effort to focus on doing something

Mind one’s own business – not interfere in other people’s lives/problems

Mind one’s p’s and q’s – be polite and follow social rules (please, thank you etc.)

Slip one’s mind – forget something

Analysis

This section is important as it gives students an opportunity to process the expressions on a deeper cognitive level and relate them to their lives, this will increase the chances of retention. Allow them to discuss the questions and then briefly in open class.

Discussion Key

Sieve slip

One

Cast

P’s q’s

Own business

Gave

Put

In/of

Right

Own

Bear

Load

Running

Student’s Handout

Sentence completion

Complete the sentences with 1 word to form expressions with “mind”.

So you’ve decided to do a masters too! ________ minds think alike!

They found the lost pendrive down the back of the sofa. Phew! That’s a ________ off my mind.

The UN has organised a council of scientists to discuss the best way to solve the issue, it’s going to be a real _________ of the minds.

Due to the recent speculation about a move to Real Madrid, the player has stated that he’s not in the right _________ of mind to play tomorrow.

No one in their _________ mind would buy that car, it’s a death-trap!

If you two don’t be quiet and go to sleep, I’m going to come up there and _____ you a ______ of my mind!

My mobile phone seems to _______ a mind of its _______. It’s always calling people in my bag.

The distances we’d have to travel to reach another habitable planet are mind-___________, it’s not going to be possible in our lifetime.

I’m ___ two minds about what to do on Sunday, we could have a picnic or we could go to the cinema.

______ your mind back to the day of the robbery Mrs. Jones, what time did your husband arrive home?

It’s worth __________ in mind that the sun goes down at 5:30 in winter, so we have to be off the mountain by then.

It never ___________my mind to ask Tony for help, I figured he didn’t know anything about computers.

Would you like another martini George? Oooo don’t mind ____ I _____.

I have ______ a mind to go up there myself and tell them to turn the music down.

This is a worksheet to practice different collocations putting similar words into context. It will be useful for teachers teaching CAE preparation classes as it will help students develop the skills needed for part 1 of the use of English paper. Download the worksheet below:

To pass away, bite the dust, perish (usually in an accident), give up the ghost, breathe one’s last.

What is a bucket list?

A list of activities that people want to do before they die.

What do you think of this idea?

Have you seen the film?

Who do you think invented this idea?

Why has it become so widely-know?

What is FOMO?

Fear of missing out – a modern phenomenon linked to social media. People tend to think theat they are missing an amazing experience.

Daily Mail Survey Guessing Game.

The Daily Mail newspaper conducted a survey to see what the British public most commonly put on their bucket lists.

Can you guess some activities people chose?

Give students a few minutes to jot down some ideas in pairs. Make it into a game, pairs read out their suggestions one at a time and you award them points depending on where it is in the top 40: 4 points for the top 10, 3 for top 20, 2 for top 30, 1 for top 40.

Language for talking about plans/hopes/dreams

Go over the language in the boxes below:

Positive

Negative

I’ve always fancied…

I’m dying/itching to try…

… is a burning ambition of mine.

… would be right up my street.

… is one for the bucket list.

A pipe dream (an unrealistic/improbable dream)

I would jump at the chance to…

If you offered me the chance to…, I would bite your hand off.

I’d give it a go.

I have no desire to…

… doesn’t appeal to me (at all)

Whatever floats your boat.

To each their own

The idea of … doesn’t do anything for me.

You wouldn’t catch me …ing

… is not my thing.

… is not for me.

Daily Mail Top 10

Have a holiday home abroad

Learn a new language

Go on holiday to the Maldives .

Buy a house

Swim with dolphins

Drive Route 66

Ride a hot air balloon

See the Egyptian Pyramids

Go to a casino in Las Vegas

Visit Venice

Have students discuss the top ten and decide if they would be on their bucket list. You can then either show them the rest of the top 40 or go to http://bucketlist.org/featured/ for more ideas for students to create their own bucket lists. Daily Mail Top 40: